Polls consistently show that a majority of Scots want to keep the ties to the rest of Britain but the 25 percent, if they broke decisively in the “yes to independence” idea, would tilt the scales.

The vote is scheduled for September 18 and the consequences of a yes vote would be huge.

Northern Ireland, for one, would be deeply impacted with the break-up of the United Kingdom.

It would become a far more difficult task for unionists to argue in favor of continued ties to an entity that no longer exists. It might well usher in an era of more co-operative politics in terms of finding mutual solutions with nationalists.

The risk/reward scenario is operative here with a higher risk but also a higher reward if Scotland votes for independence.

For decades the ruling Tory Party has barely had a Scottish MP north of the Solway Firth and that will hardly change anytime soon.

The Labour Party on the other hand has paid little attention to Scottish issues, content to harvest the working class voters and use them as election fodder.

The rise of the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) has been spectacular under devolution and Alex Salmond is now the de facto leader of Scotland.

Salmond did not want an all or nothing vote on this occasion but clever maneuvering by British PM David Cameron framed the question in that way.

The Scots should go for it. Accountable local government is always better than being ruled from afar and the Scots will be taken far more seriously as an independent nation than they are now as vassals of London.

The devolution of powers, giving local politicians the ability to make a decision for their own folks, is always preferable to pats on the head from London.

Sure there will be transition issues and scaremongering galore, but Scots are nothing if not resilient and well able to run their own affairs.

They should vote for it. They have a ready-made structure in place with the SNP and a deep sense of nationhood and identity already.

What’s not to like about striking out on your own into a shared future?

The rise of the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) has been spectacular under devolution and Alex Salmond is now the de facto leader of Scotland.Thinkstock